Written By: Kerri Tucker
The 5th Annual, award winning, Charm City Folk and Bluegrass Festival is back this spring, taking place on Saturday April 29th, 2017 from 10am- 9:30 pm. The festival is located at Druid Hill Park in Baltimore, Maryland. This year features 14 bands of national and regional delight, as well as three stages. The musical lineup includes The Lone Bellow, Cabinet, A special Supergroup, Cris Jacobs, The Dustbowl Revival, The Lonsesome River Band, and many more. Why shouldn’t you miss this special event? We came up with 10 reasons why you should make your plans now!
2- Goodbye winter, hello springtime. Finally we can be outside again to experience the beauty of live music together, in Druid Hill Park, the heart of historic Baltimore! Grab your dancing shoes or get your toes in the grass. Get back to your roots, and let the beautiful sounds of bluegrass and folk melt your troubles away.
3- The Super Group: We have the pleasure to experience a unique “super group” this year–consisting of Adam Aijala (guitar) and Ben Kaufman (bass) from Yonder Mountain String Band, combined with Drew Emmit (mandolin) and Andy Thorn (banjo) of Leftover Salmon. Now this is something you do not wanna miss folks! We can’t wait to see what these guys have in store for this year’s event.
4- Returning this year we have Cris Jacobs and Cabinet: Why hello, hello. Glad to see these two back. Watch out, Cris Jacobs will be sure to enchant you with his unique sound. And Cabinet, well there is a reason why these guys are back. They are simply amazing spin on Appalachian bluegrass. Come see for yourself, you wont be disappointed.
5- The Lone Bellow: Now this is a group intertwined in harmony that will have all your cares floating away on Saturday. They just released a new album- Then Came the Morning, full of soul touching sounds that they will be sharing with us.
6- The rest of the lineup: includes a tasty selection of regional and national bands. If you have not seen any of these guys yet, now is your chance. Step out of your comfort zone. You may experience one of your next favorites at this years Charm City Folk and Bluegrass Festival such as the Kitchen Dwellers, who are making quite the name for themselves.
7- Vending Village Extraordinaire: There will be quite the selection of vendors at this years event, including food, drink, art, shops, and other goodies to entice you. A few include: Local Union Craft Brewing (VIP gets unlimited beer), Brick’n’fire pizza company, Yogaworks, The Local Oyster, Believe in Music, The Charmery and Centercut Doughnuts, Soulshine Boutique, One Drop Design studios, and Asian Taste, Yum Yums, plus many more. Come support your local vendors!
8- This event is family friendly, so bring your little ones to join the fun. Kids under the age of 10 are free. Kiddos will have plenty of space on the grass to wiggle it out in the park.
9- The little things: Re- entry is allowed over the age of 21, you are allowed to bring two unopened water bottles as well as a lawn chair, and this event is rain or shine.
10- After party: Continuing the Charm City Bluegrass tradition, they have partnered with the lovely 8×10 in Baltimore to top the night off with an afterparty featuring Billy Strings and Friends. Doors are at 9pm and tickets are $16.
String a ling ding! Hope to catch y’all on the grass.